Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-29

manned loyal TO the company and sent
the following telegram to Geneal.su-
perintendont SRiepnrd and received his
approval:
1.-The crews Of seven wharf. engines
remained at work. | have covered them
with protection and sad TO them that as
they have evidenced their loyalty to the
company by remaining at their engines
and not drawing their fires, would pro-
mise them. If they thought it unsafe TO
remain on the engines, 10 see to it that
their positions would loo open for them
at any time"
Over 100 coal-handlers left the yards,
and they said they had obeycd an order
to strike, and the superintendent said
they had gone home on account Of the
rain and intended to come back again
Tins has been the situation al the after
noon the statements Of the men and the
representatives OF the company being cx-
actlN opposed TO each other as to the
status of the present difficulty
At the time the coal handlers quit
there were ten steam cOlliefs, sjX barges,
five sailing vessels, and ten other boats
lying at the Port Richmond wharvcs
waiting for carRoes of coal Superin-
tcndent Keim denies that there is strike,
and while there was no trouble of any
kind during the day the company sent
( for additional police and obtained the
services of fifty uniformed men. 1t has
IN addition to these, it is said, five
hundred PinkcrtOn detectives and pri.
waite policemen scattered around the coal
piers and vicinity. The reason for this
action was the fear that some damage TO
property might be attempted. The men
assert that there is no excuse for sending
policemen to the scene, and they say that
thcy are rs anxious as the company chat
no property shall be damaged.
DISCHARGED FOR INSTRUMENTATION.
PHILADELPHIA, December 28.-It
was learned this afternoon that the
crews OF each OF ten Reading steam col
hers had been discharged for iusubordi-
nation. Two crews were discharged YES
terday and the others have received no.
tee since. The characterization is said
to consist of the violation Of the shipping
articles IN refusing to take vessels out
when ordered 10 do so. Each crew
numbered fifteen men, or $50 in all.
Their places have not yet been filed.
All along the Reading lines in this city.
running INTO their different stations,
trains seem to be running as usual, and
to the casual observer no indication Of
trouble would appear. The men them
selves are 50 reticent about the strike
and the causes which brought it on that
information Is difficult to obtain. With
the exception of the coal handlers
at Port Richmond there does
not appear 10 he any trouble
and diligent inquiry has failed to reveal
the true situation, and although the order
for the strike Is generally believed to
have been issued by John j.. Lee, chair
man of the Executive Committee of
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad EN-
ployecs' Convention, even this material |
point cannot be definitely learned The |
trouble seems to bear with it a cloud OF
mystery which cannot 50 far he pene- |
trated.
WHAT WILL THE MINERS DO?
READING, Pa, December est was
learned at the Office of the Reading
Railroad Company IN this city this eve /
nng that the work Of clearing silines Of /
cOal-cars had been finished, and that any /
coal hauled TO tidewater on and after /
tomorrow would have to be mined IN /
the colherles. some of which. however /
are idle. Officials here do not appre- |
bend any great difficulty with the /
miners, on the ground that with them, /
as with the railroaders, the present strike I
has caused "A division Of sentiment on .
the subject of striking. II ia estimated .
that 800 10 800 employees of the Read
ing railroad along the entire line have
lost their positions because they had
either refused to obey the cOmpauy's
orders or had helped to fomont and
encourage the strike. Fully 30 per cent.
Of the crews passing through this city
are new men.
A convention Of Reading railroad en-
pl0yees has been called to meet here to-
morrow. II Is expected that there viii
be- a greater division of sentiment in
this convention than for some years past
on the question of pursuing active and
aggressive measures against the com
)any. Some of the prominent labor
eaders discharged in Philadelphia will
be present and present their side of the
.ase. Delegates from Reading and other
places along the road who have
eiused to participate in the strike (
will urge quiet submission at this
line while there are others, particu-
arly from the coal REGIONS and Port {
who say that they viii adyo-
ate fighting it out and paying the
ompany for what they look upon as un-
air dealing. From all indications the /
oal-miners Will control the convention, I
nd it may be decided tomorrow as to
neither or not they will strike. This
iternoon nearly 300 coal aud freight
ncinecrs, brakcmen, and firemon were {
allied to Reading, paid of, and dis Z
harged for the part they took in the